Machine for polishing tin and terne plates



(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 1 N. D. LEWIS. MAGHINBFOR POLISHING TIN AND TERNB PLATES.

No. 599,568. Patented Feb. 22,1898.

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(No Model.)

Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHANIEL D. LEWIS, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

MACHINEFOR POLISHING TIN AND TERNE PLATES.

sPEoIFIoA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,568, dated February 22, 1898.

Application filed May 24, 1897- Serial No. 637,881. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL D. LEWIs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Coating and Polishing Tin and Terne Plates, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings, and the figures of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the transferframe designed to be located between the tinning-pot and the polishing devices of a tin and terne plating machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of said frame, taken on line B of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing a side view of one of the endlesschain carriers and the devices for gripping plates and transferring them from the tinning-pot to polishing devices. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing the two positions of the plate-gripping devices. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the transfer-frame and of its endless-chain carriers and plate-gripping mechanism. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of Fig. 1, taken on line A, looking down. Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the box-links of one of the endless-sprocket-chain carriers for carrying a cross-shaft connecting the two endlesschain carriers and for carrying the plate-gripping mechanism, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of one end portion of one of the cross-shafts connecting the two endless-sprocket-chaincarriers and showing a pair of gripping-jaws journaled on said shaft for gripping plates and showing the mechanism for operating said jaws. i

This inventionrelates to certain improvements in a machine for coating and polishing tin and terne plates, and relates particularly to the part of said machine for transferring said plates from the tin'ning-pot to the polishing devices, and in this application only enough of the tinning-pot and polishing devices are shown to show how they are connected with the transfer-frame.

The object of this invention is to provide means for transferring thetinned plates from the tinning-pot to the polishing devices.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 represent a 3 on the end of a drive-shaft.

pair of rectangular frames arranged to stand parallel with each other far enough apart so there may be space enough between them to operate the plate-transferring devices.

10 10 are a pair of endless sprocket-chains located, respectively, near eachinner side of said frames, as shown in Fig. 5, and are carried on sprocket-wheels 2 3 3 3 the sprocketwheels carrying each chain being designated by the same numeral, except sprocket-wheel The said sprocket-wheels 2 8 3 are 'journaled on inwardly-projecting studs attached to said frames, one pair of which are adjustable, as shown at 9 in Fig. 1, for giving proper tension to said chains.

The lower sprocket-wheels 3 and 3 are driven to give motion to the endless-chain carriers. The .mechanism for driving said sprocket-wheels is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and consists of a drive-shaft 4., to which power is applied. Said drive-shaft is provided on its inner end with the sprocket-wheel 3?, over which one of said sprocket-chains passes. Said drive-shaft has also secured on it outside the frame 1 a gear-wheel 7, which meshes with a similar gear-wheel 6 on the outer end of a cross-shaft 5, journaled in boxes of frames 1 1, respectively. The opposite end of shaft 5 has secured to it the gear-wheel 6, which meshes with a similar gear-wheel 7 secured on the outer end of a short shaft, having sprocket wheel 3 secured on its inner end and over which sprocket-wheel the other one of said endless sprocket-chains passes. By means of thus connecting the two sprocketchains they are each driven at the same speed for carrying the gripping mechanism for transferring the plates, as stated. Said endless chains are each respectively provided with oppositely-arranged link-boXes, such as are shown in Fig. 7, in' which are journaled crossshafts 27. Said shafts are provided near their outer ends with T-arms 26, secured thereto, and also depending gravity-weights 33 for maintaining said T-heads in a vertical position and for maintaining the grippingjaws in a depending position. A pair of L- bars 31 are arranged one on either side of and parallel with shafts 27 and are respectively pivotally connected to the extending arms of the T-heads 26 by means of links 24, and said bars are also pivotally connected with shafts 27 by means of links 25, as shown particu larly in Fig. 3. A coil-spring 28 on shaft 27 has its extending ends arranged so as to reach under the bars 31, respectively, to support them in their normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, for holding open the gripping-jaws, which have their inner ends pivotally attached to shaft 27 and are secured to the bars 31, respectively, as shown in Fig. 8, so that Vertical movement of said bars will open and close said jaws. It is intended to place two or more of such gripping-jaws on each of said shafts 27, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, so that sheets of tin may be grasped near their upper edges, as shown in Fig. 5.

The two frames 1 1 are provided with guideboxes near their lower ends (shown at 13) and arranged opposite to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, through which the endless sprocket-ehains 10 pass on their way upward. These boxes are flared outward on their lower ends, as shown at 19 in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to gather in the toggle formed by the links 23 24 to straighten them out, as shown in Fig. 4:, to close the jaws 30 on a plate. The said links 23 24 are provided at their joint with a friction-roller 29 to reduce friction of the parts against said guideways. In order to cause the jaws to retain their grasp on a plate until it is transferred over the polishing devices, the said guideways carry the joint of the links 23 2% beyond a line projected between their opposite ends a trifle, as shown in Fig. 4, to so remain until the friction-rollers 29 in their descent respectively engage guides 14, secured on frames 1 on their rear sides, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Until so engaged by said guides the said jaws are caused to retain their grip on a plate by means of the coil-springs 28. As the rollers 29 respectively engage the outer sides of the diverging guides 11 they are caused to be spread apart and cause the toggles formed of the links 23 24: 25 to return to their first position (shown in Fig. 3) to open the jaws 1 1 and release the plate to be taken up by the polishing devices. (Not necessary to be shown, as they form no part of this invention.)

B represents a portion of a tinning-pot provided with feed-rolls 20, which are adapted to feed plates to the transfer-jaws, which rolls maybe operated by any suitable mechanism.

In operation the plate 21 is'fed from the tinning-pot to the open jaws 30 by means of the feed-rolls 20, the machine being timed so the jaws will be in the proper position to receive the plate when so fed upward. Immediately after a plate is fed to the jaws they are caused to close upon the plate by means of the guide-box 13 19, which causes the parts opera-ting said jaws to be changed from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 and thus grasp a plate between them and carry it upward and rearward and thence downward by means of the endless carrierchains 10 until the jaws are caused to be opened by means of the guides 12 14, as stated, when the plate will drop to be taken up by polishing devices or otherwise, as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The transfer device for tin and terne plating machines consisting of the combination of a pair of endless sprocket-chain carriers, a suitable frame having sprocket-wheels for supporting and driving said chains, crossshafts j ournaled in said chains,clamping-jaws journaled at their inner ends on said shafts, gravity-weights attached to said shafts, the toggle mechanism connected with said jaws and shaft, and the guide-boxes secured to said frames for engaging said toggle mechanism to open and close said jaws, and the means for driving said chains all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In the transfer device shown and described for tin and terne plating machines, the combination of the two vertically-arranged matching frames 1, 1, the two matching endless sproeket-ehains 10, 10, sprocket-wheels 2, 3, 3 3 studded to said frames for carrying said chains, drive-shaft 4: having the gearwheel 7 and sprocket-wheel 3 shaft 5 having gear-wheel 6 for meshing with gear-wheel 7, and having the gear-wheel 6 on its opposite end for meshing with gear-wheel 7" on the outer end of the shaft of sprocket-wheel 3, cross-shafts 27 having their ends respectively journaled in boxes 3% of the sprocket-chains, the depending Weights 33 secured to said shafts, T-heads 26 secured to shafts 27, one near each end, links 23, 24, 25 for forming a toggle to connect said T-heads with shafts 27, and for supporting bars 31, gripping-jaws 30 having their inner ends journaled on said shafts 27 and secured to bars 31, bars 31, coilsprings 28 coiled on shafts 27, and adapted to support said bars and hold said jaws open or closed, guide-boxes 13, 14 for closing said jaws, guide-boxes 12, 1& for opcnin g said jaws and the means for operating said parts all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for conveying metal plates the combination of endless traveling belts or chains carrying horizontal cross rods or bars, plate-gripping jaws and mechanism for actuating them carried by said bars, pendent weights carried by said bars for maintaining said jaws in a vertical position, and stationary guides for opening and closing said jaws substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

, NATHANIEL 1). LEWIS.

XVitnesses:

IHos. II. Horcnms, GEO. W. BROWN. 

